An elderly man was pulled from the rubble of a Washington D.C. apartment complex that was decimated by a fire. WTTG-TV reporter Ann Cutler reported that the man was discovered alive inside the gutted residential building.
Initial reports stated that the rescued man was 70, but WTTG later reported his age to be 74. He was transported to a local hospital with minimal injuries.
5 days after a massive fire tore through the Arthur Capper senior center in Southeast DC, sources tell @fox5dc that a 70 year old man was found in the rubble ALIVE! This comes after the city previously declared all residents had been accounted for. pic.twitter.com/T82igHF3th
— Anne Cutler (@AnneCutler) September 24, 2018
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said that firefighters were having a tough time maintaining the integrity of the building following the fire, which ignited.
“We expect to see some perimeter work to stabilize the outside of the building,” Bowser said, as reported by WTOP-TV.
https://twitter.com/AnneCutler/status/1044250153832599552?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1044250153832599552&ref_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.faithwire.com%2F2018%2F09%2F24%2Fmiracle-70-year-old-man-pulled-from-rubble-five-days-after-fire-broke-out-at-d-c-senior-home%2F
The Arthur Capper Senior building is privately owned and operated and was home to low-income senior tenants, who would pay a subsidized rental for their accommodation.
As for the owners of the building, Bowser insisted that they intend to rebuild the massive structure.
“They don’t know the extent of the damage at this time, but I heard loud and clear that the intent was to rebuild the building,” she noted.
Bettye Carter reunites with Firefighter Da’Von McRae, who safely guided her 4 stories down a portable ladder at the Capper Senior Housing complex fire. Firefighter McRae is the son of Lt. Kevin McRae, who lost his life in the line of duty May 6th, 2015. pic.twitter.com/BlbOhtm2Ix
— DC Fire and EMS (@dcfireems) September 23, 2018
D.C. Council member Charles Allen added that it had been “heartwarming” to see so many locals desperate to help the stricken residents.
“So many people have come around to try to help make sure that every effort can be made to help our neighbors in their time of need,” he said.
On the day of the blaze, incredible footage emerged on Twitter capturing a group of U.S. marines sprinting toward the flames at the senior home complex. The building is located across the street from a gym used by military members and is also in close proximity to the Washington Navy Yard.
Marines from 8 and I running towards the fire raging in SE DC. pic.twitter.com/4vSKsuyTGo
— Lyndsey Medsker (@lmedsker) September 19, 2018
“These are our neighbors. They needed help. We had to act,” said Capt. Trey Gregory, according to CBS News. “It was a pretty bad fire, especially on the top floor. Some paralyzed immobile people in there. We actually just picked people up as best we possibly could and then had the wheelchairs at the exit and then put them right into the wheelchair.”
Investigators are still unclear as to exactly what caused the fire.
Written by: Will Maule
Article source: www.faithwire.com
